Method and apparatus for adjusting a tire building machine

ABSTRACT

A method supports a tire building assembly. The method comprises the steps of: supporting one end portion of a radially collapsible building drum for assembling a green tire; moving the end portion in a first direction by an actuator acting in the first direction; and moving the end portion in a second direction by the actuator acting in the first direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for moving atire building drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the manufacture of pneumatic tires, elastomeric components, some ofwhich are reinforced by cords of textile or wire, are formed as longstrips. These strips are assembled together to form a carcasssubassembly in a first stage of assembly. This carcass typically has oneor more cord reinforced plies, a pair of bead cores and an airimpervious liner. Additional strips of material such as apexes, shouldergum strips, chippers, and chaffers may also be included in this firststage of tire assembly.

In a second stage, the tread rubber and belt or breaker reinforcingstructure is typically applied to the carcass after the carcass has beentoroidally shaped on the tire building drum. The tread rubber may be ofone or more homogeneous compounds. Typically, the tread is asophisticated composite of many different rubber materials co-extrudedto form a tread strip. The belt or breaker reinforcing layers generallyinclude two layers or more of cross plies reinforced by equal, butoppositely oriented, cords of textiles, such as nylon or aramid, orwire, such as steel. Additionally, overlays or underlays of generallycircumferentially oriented cords may be added as additional layers.

Tires typically have been built using this two-stage assembly. Onceassembled, this uncured assembly of the components may be placed in acuring mold to be vulcanized to form a finished tire. High speed andefficient ways to manufacture tires require the processes to be reliableand fast. Accordingly, manufacturers of tires have experimented andperfected many ways to improve on the basic two-stage assembly of tires.

An expansible and contractible transfer ring may convey a breaker/treadassembly from a tire building drum in a tire building machine to a tirecarcass mounted on a tire shaping machine. A separate tread/breakerbuilding drum may vary in size to accommodate different sizes of tires.

Thus, the assembly of a tread/belt to a tire carcass may be accomplishedoff-line, or separate from, the carcass building machine. Once formedinto a ring, these tread/breaker assemblies may be moved to encircle atire carcass, the carcass may be inflated to contact the inner surfaceof the tread/breaker assembly and stitched together by a rollermechanism to form a green, or uncured, tire assembly to be placed into acuring mold.

Conventional tire molds, whether two piece molds or segmented molds,form the tread surfaces by pressing groove forming ribs and sipe formingblades into the tread rubber as the tire is cured. As this is done, thebelt cords, particularly those directly under the groove-forming ribs,may deflect in small, but noticeable, undulations. These undulations maycreate a variety of changes across the tread that actually may alter thesurface or change the amount of tread rubber across the otherwise normalappearing tire. These non-uniformities may lead to mass imbalanceissues, irregular wear, and a variety of associated ride/handling/noiseperformance issues. A goal in tire manufacturing is to minimizeunpredictable non-uniformities in manufacturing while also building thetire in a very cost-efficient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A method in accordance with the present invention supports a tirebuilding assembly.

The method comprises the steps of: supporting one end portion of aradially collapsible building drum for assembling a green tire; movingthe end portion in a first direction by an actuator acting in the firstdirection; and moving the end portion in a second direction by theactuator acting in the first direction.

According to another aspect of the method, the first direction extendsninety degrees relative to the second direction in a horizontal plane.

According to still another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of moving a longitudinal rail in the first direction.

According to yet another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of moving a transverse rail in the second direction.

According to still another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of pivotally securing a link to the actuator and theend portion.

According to yet another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of positioning a spring about an actuating rod of theactuator.

According to still another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of acting against movement of the end portion in thefirst direction by a spring.

According to yet another aspect of the method, the acting step furthercauses acting against movement of the end portion in the seconddirection.

According to still another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of compressing a spring by the actuator.

According to yet another aspect of the method, the method furtherincludes the step of sliding a rail in the second direction.

An assembly in accordance with the present invention moves an endportion of a tire building assembly. The assembly includes a supportframe for supporting the end portion, a longitudinal rail slidinglymounted to the support frame, a transverse rail slidingly mounted to thelongitudinal rail; and an actuator for moving the longitudinal rail in afirst direction relative to the support frame. The actuator also movesthe transverse rail in a second direction relative to the support frameand the longitudinal rail.

According to another aspect of the assembly, the first direction extendsninety degrees relative to the second direction.

According to still another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a link pivotally secured to both the longitudinal rail and thetransverse rail.

According to yet another aspect of the assembly, the actuator includes acylinder, an actuating rod, and a spring acting against movement in thefirst direction.

According to still another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a link for transferring a longitudinal force of the actuatorinto a transverse force acting at ninety degrees relative to thelongitudinal force.

According to yet another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a stop for limiting movement of the longitudinal rail in thefirst direction.

According to still another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a first movement and a second movement acting subsequently tothe first movement, the first movement producing motion in the firstdirection and the second movement producing motion in the seconddirection.

According to yet another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a first position of a live center pin, a second position of thelive center pin a first distance from the first position in the firstdirection, and a third position of the live center pin a second distancefrom the second position in the second direction.

According to still another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a link pivotally secured about vertical axes to the actuatorand the transverse rail.

According to yet another aspect of the assembly, the assembly furtherincludes a link proving sequentially movement of the end portion in thefirst direction and then the second direction.

Definitions

“Apex” means an elastomeric filler located radially above the bead andinterposed between the plies and the ply turnup.

“Axial” and “axially” means the lines or directions that are parallel tothe axis of rotation of the tire.

“Bead” means that part of the tire comprising an annular tensile memberwrapped by ply cords and shaped, with or without other reinforcementelements such as flippers, chippers, apexes, toe guards and chafers, tofit the design rim.

“Breaker Structure” refers to at least two annular layers or plies ofparallel reinforcement cords oppositely oriented having the same angleor about 5° less than the parallel reinforcing cords in carcass plies,generally about 20° to less than 50° with reference to the equatorialplan of the tire.

“Belt Structure” means at least two annular layers or plies of parallelcords, woven or unwoven, underlying the tread, unanchored to the bead,and having both left and right cord angles in the range from 17° to 27°with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire.

“Carcass” means an unvulcanized laminate of tire ply material and othertire components cut to length suitable for splicing, or already spliced,into a cylindrical or toroidal shape. Additional components may be addedto the carcass prior to its being vulcanized to create the molded tire.

“Casing” means the carcass, the belt reinforcement and other componentsof the tire excluding the tread.

“Chafers” refers to narrow strips of material placed around the outsideof the bead to protect cord plies from the rim, distribute flexing abovethe rim, and to seal the tire.

“Circumferential” means lines or directions extending along theperimeter of the surface of the annular tread perpendicular to the axialdirection.

“Cord” means one of the reinforcement filaments, cables, or strands ofwhich the plies in the tire are comprised.

“Equatorial plane (EP)” means the plane perpendicular to the tire's axisof rotation and passing through the center of its tread.

“Innerliner or liner” means the layer or layers of elastomer or othermaterial that form the inside surface of a tubeless tire and thatcontain the inflating fluid within the tire.

“Overlay” means one or more layers of parallel cords underlying treadabove the belt structure and having cord angles typically 0° to 15° withrespect to the equatorial plane of the tire.

“Ply” means a continuous layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.

“Radial” and “radially” mean directions radially toward or away from theaxis of rotation of the tire.

“Radial ply tire” means a belted or circumferentially-restrictedpneumatic tire in which the ply cords which extend from bead to bead arelaid at cord angles between 65°-90° with respect to the equatorial planeof the tire.

“Section height” means the radial distance from the nominal rim diameterto the outer diameter of the tire at its equatorial plane.

“Section width” means the maximum linear distance parallel to the axisof the tire and between the exterior of its sidewalls when and after ithas been inflated at normal pressure for 24 hours, but unloaded,excluding elevations of the sidewalls due to labeling, decoration orprotective bands.

“Shoulder” means the upper portion of sidewall just below the treadedge.

“Shoulder gum strip” means an elastomeric reinforcement located in theshoulder region of the carcass.

“Sidewall” means that elastomeric portion of a tire between the treadand the bead.

“Subassembly” means an unvulcanized assembly of laminated unreinforcedtire components to which a cord reinforced ply or plies and other tirecomponents can be added to form a casing.

“Tread” means a rubber component which when bonded to a tire carcassincludes that portion of the tire that come into contact with the roadwhen the tire is normally inflated and under normal load.

“Tread width” means the arc length of the tread surface in the axialdirection, that is, in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of thetire.

“Underlay” means one or more layers of parallel cords underlying thebelt structure or at least one layer of the belt structure and havingcord angles typically 0° to 15° with respect to the equatorial plane ofthe tire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described, by way of example, and withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tread or tread belt assemblybuilding drum of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tread or tread belt assemblybuilding drum of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the transfer means engaged in thesupport means of the building drum;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the transfer means with the supportmeans attached thereto and separated from the building drum;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus taken from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the tread or tread belt assemblybuilding drum attached to the drive means for rotating the drum andillustrating the means for radially expanding and contracting thesupport means as well as an overload clutch means;

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the adjacent arcuate or straightsegments with a gap spanner shown in the expanded fully open position;

FIG. 8B is the same features illustrated in FIG. 8A but in the fullycollapsed contracted position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the building drum assembly showing atread belt assembly as applied to the support surface;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the tread or tread belt assemblymounted on the building drum and being placed into an opened mold;

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of the tread or tread belt assemblymounted on the building drum with the mold being closed onto theassembly;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the tread belt assembly in themold with the building drum collapsed and being removed from the mold;and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the mold and tread or tread beltassembly being cured to a carcass assembly mounted on a collapsiblebuilding drum assembly.

FIG. 13 schematically represents an apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention under a first condition.

FIG. 14 schematically represents an apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention under a second condition.

FIG. 15 schematically represents an apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention under a third condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a tread or tread beltassembly building drum is illustrated. As shown, a building drum 10 hasa radially expandable and contractible support means 20. The supportmeans 20 has a radially outer surface 24 for building a tread or treadbelt reinforcing structure onto the surface 24. The surface has aplurality of arcuate or straight segments 22 which are connected by gapspanner segments 21 around the peripheral surface of the tread buildingsupport means. The arcuate or straight segments 22 and gap spannersegments 21 are slidably attached onto the building drum support means20. Each arcuate segment 22 has a hole or opening 55 for accepting aplurality of pins located on a transfer means 50. The pins 54 can bepressed into the openings 55 and provide a means 50 for transferring thearcuate or straight segments and gap spanner segments as an assemblyonto and off the support means 20.

As used herein, each segment 22 and gap spanner segment 21 may have aflat or straight circumferentially or laterally extending surface or,alternatively, an arcuate surface. Hereinafter the segments will begenerally referred to as arcuate while it is understood the surface maybe straight in either the circumferential direction or the lateraldirection.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the transfer means 50 has an annular transferring 51 and a guide ring 52. The guide ring 52 is slidably inserted overthe pins 54 and the pins 54 are rigidly attached to the transfer ring 51as shown. On the exterior surface of the transfer means 50 are shownthree knobs 53.

With reference to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of the building drum 10is shown along with the transfer means 50. The transfer means 50 isshown not engaged to the building drum 10 or to the arcuate or straightsegments 22. The combination of the arcuate or straight segments 22 andthe gap spanner segments 21 form a subassembly commonly referred to asthe deck. The term “deck” is commonly referred to with a similar meaningas that of the deck of a boat. It is an exterior surface upon which onemay stand or build the tread assembly. Hereinafter the building surface24 will be referred to as the deck 24. This deck 24, which is anassembly of the arcuate or straight segments 22 and the gap spanningsegments 21, is slidably mounted over deck segment guides 116, 117. Onceslid over these guides 116, 117, a detent assembly called a deck segmentlocking pin 115 engages and secures the deck 24 to the drum expansionsegment 114. To remove the deck assembly 24 from the radially expandableand contractible tread building drum 10, the transfer means 50 is pushedinto the holes 55 wherein the pins 54 engage the deck segment lockingpins 115 thereby releasing them when the pins 54 are fully engaged(FIGS. 3 & 4).

Once engaged, the transfer means 50 may be used to slidably remove thedeck assembly 24 (FIG. 5). The pins 54 provide radial support for thedeck assembly 24 and hold the deck assembly in position for removal. Aperspective view of the removed deck assembly 24 provides a view of thedeck segment guides 116 and 117 and the drum expansion segment 114. Thearcuate or straight segments 22 have the deck segment locking pin 115engaged by the pin 54. A spring 129 is used in the contracted positionwhen the pin 54 is inserted (FIG. 6). Once the pin 54 is removed, thespring 129 is free to release and allow the locking pin 115 to extendradially inwardly to accomplish the locking of the mechanism.

In order for the tread belt building drum 10 to expand radially andcontract radially and to provide a surface 24 upon which a tread beltassembly can be built, the building drum 10 may accept a drive means 30that provides rotational movement of the entire building drum assembly10 (FIG. 7). The drive means 30 is connected to a motor (notillustrated) which can provide rotational movement of the tire buildingdrum assembly 10. The drive means 30 includes a drive spline 100 whichis connected to a screw drive shaft 101 and embedded inside a drumquick-mount mounting cone 102. The quick-mount mounting cone 102provides for rapid engagement and disengagement of the drum assembly 10.The drum quick-mount mounting cone 102 has a key 104 with a key locatingpin 103 and a longitudinally extending keyway 105. A drum inboardhousing 106 has a corresponding drum outboard housing 107 (FIG. 7). Anoutboard support cone 108 may be disposed on the opposite side of thedrive means 20 and the drum assembly 10.

The outboard support cone 108 may have a live center receptacle 109. Thelive center may permit easy rotation of the drum assembly 10 while theentire assembly is being rotated, as well as both longitudinal andlateral movement. Viewed internally at the center of the mechanism orapparatus 10, there may be a ball screw or acme threaded screw assembly110. The threaded assembly 110 may be comprised of two components, onehaving left-hand threads and an opposite side having right-hand threads.These two components may be pinned together to provide simultaneousrotation of the mechanism. On the left-hand side may be an inboard ballnut or acme nut 111 connected to one end of the threaded screw 110 andon the opposite or outboard side another ball nut or acme nut 112. Aball screw overload protection clutch mechanism 113 may providecapability of disengaging the shaft 110 and permitting the drum assembly10 to collapse, if the pressure is exceeded beyond the capability of theclutch mechanism. This override clutch protection mechanism 113 ensuresthat, when the mold closes or pressure is applied to the radially outersurface of the deck 24, the deck 24 may collapse as the clutch mechanism113 disengages, permitting the entire unit or drum 10 to collapseslightly thereby preventing overload from damaging the internal workingsof either the mold or the assembly 10.

Radially inward of the deck 24 or its arcuate or straight segments 22may be a drum expansion segment 114. The drum expansion segments 114 arethreadedly engaged by threaded fasteners 125 to an expanding segmentbase 123. The drum expansion segments 114 are also located by pins 122.Radially inward of the expanding segment base 114 is an outward outboardsegment cone bushing 121 and an inboard segment cone bushing 120 whichare threadedly attached using screws or threaded fasteners 126 to theexpanding segment base 123. Radially inward of the inboard segmentbushing 120 is the inboard expansion cone 118. Similarly, on theoutboard side the outboard segment cone bushing 121 is an outboardexpansion cone 119. The bushings 120, 121 are designed to slide alongthe cone surfaces of the inboard expansion cone 118 and outboardexpansion cone 119, respectively. The building drum 10 may be in anexpanded position such that the radially outer deck or building surface24 is radially expanded. As the drive shaft 101 is spun or rotatedinside the bearings 127, 128, the inboard ball nut 111 and outboard ballnut 112 push the expansion cones both inboard and outboard 118, 119,respectively, radially to the center plane of the building drum 10. Asthese cones 118, 119 push to the center plane, the conical surfacepermits the expanding segment base 123 and its bushings 120, 121 toslide along the conical surfaces and contract radially inwardly.

In the fully expanded position, the arcuate or straight segments 22 areshown with a gap G between each segment in the fully radially expandedposition (FIG. 8A). The gap G may be at least 0.050 in (1.25 mm) asmeasured between the adjacent segments. The gap spanning segment 21 isconstrained in channels 25. Each gap spanning segment 21 has lobes 26that are captured within these channels 25. They may be slid laterallyto remove the segments 21, 22, but are constrained such that the arcuateor straight segments 22 can move circumferentially a certain extentuntil they engage the lobes 26. This permits a diametrical expansion ofthe assembly 10 by a few millimeters. The ends of the segments 22 have achamfered surface 27 which provides a space for the gap spanning segment21 to occupy at the correct diameter for tread belt building. Uponcontraction, the arcuate or straight segments close upon each other andthe gap spanning segments 21 are moved within the channels 25 such thatthe lobes 26 contact the interior surface of the arcuate or straightsegments 22 (FIG. 8B). When this occurs the gap G between the adjacentarcuate or straight segments 22 is closed, permitting each of thesegments to contract radially inward. This feature enables one to builda tread or tread belt assembly in such a manner that the tread or treadbelt assembly can easily be removed once assembled to the deck assembly24.

The tread drum assembly 10 is shown wherein a typical tread beltreinforcing structure 14 is shown assembled to the exterior surface orperipheral surface of the deck 24 (FIG. 9). A first belt layer 16 laysadjacent to the surface 24. Two belt edge elastomeric strips 17 arelocated at the lateral edges of the first belt layer 16. Interposedbetween the elastomeric strips 17 is a second belt layer 15 having cordsoriented oppositely relative to the first belt layer 16. An overlay 18may be a circumferentially extended cord reinforced structure that“overlays” both the second belt layer 15, the first belt layer 16, andthe underlying gum strips 17. Radially outward of the overlay 18 may bean unvulcanized layer 12 of tread rubber. The tread rubber 12 may beprovided as strips of rubber wound and laid adjacently or may beprovided as a single layer.

Once the tread belt assembly 14 is applied onto the building surface 24,the entire building drum assembly 10 may be placed inside a curing mold2 (FIG. 10). The tread assembly 14 may be mounted on a building drum 10that is in a radially expanded position and placed inside the open andexpanded curing mold 2. The curing mold 2 has tread forming segments 4on each side, a bottom plate 6, a pair of bead forming rings 11, 9, atop plate 8, and a tread forming segment 5 attached to the top plate.Once inserted inside the mold 2, the mold maybe closed and the moldsegments contract against the tread belt assembly on the tread belt drumassembly 10 (FIG. 11A).

The tread rubber 12 may then be forced into the tread forming grooves ofthe segments 4. Once fully contracted, the tread rubber 12 may adhere tothe tread forming segments 4. It may be preferred that the tread rubber12 be warmed or applied to the building drum 10 hot, such that when themold is closed, the rubber may be relatively softened so that it willeasily accept, adapt, and conform to the tread forming segments 4. Thetread 12 may be warmed to a temperature of approximately 110° C. orbetween 90° C. and 110° C. Once pressure is applied, assuming thepressure does not exceed the desired limits, the entire tread beltassembly 14 may be adequately adhered to the internal surfaces of thetread forming segments 4.

While the mold 2 is still closed, it may be desirable to contract thetread belt drum assembly 10 into a radially contracted position. Thetread belt 14 will remain in the tread forming segments 4. Once fullyretracted, the drum assembly 10 is freed from the tread belt assembly 14and the top plate 8 of the mold 2 may be removed along with theassociated connected components (FIG. 10). Once the mold top plate 8 isremoved, the tread drum assembly 10 can be removed from the mold 2. Onceremoved, the tread belt 14 is left in the mold 2 with the segments 4closed and a tire building drum assembly 7 with a green carcass 72already mounted to it may be placed into the mold 2. The carcassbuilding drum assembly 7 has an axle 70 that is contoured and lockedinto the mold using locking detents 74 (FIG. 12). Once closed, a gaseousfluid or steam is introduced into the interior through the axle 70 andthe internal pressure is applied to the carcass adhering it to the treadbelt assembly at the interfacial surfaces. The tire is then cured inthis self-locking mold 2.

When a mold 2 is first closed and the tread building drum assembly 10 isinside the mold, should the mold be misaligned or the tread rubber 12not properly aligned for closing the segments 4, then the clutchmechanism 113 may disengage, allowing the entire assembly 10 to collapseand preventing damage to the mold 2. The tread belt assembly 14 may bemade on the building drum 10 and the transportability of the buildingdrum 10 may permit the entire assembly to be placed inside a mold 2whereby the tread belt assembly can be transferred directly to the moldprior to being applied to the carcass 72. Then, the tread building drumassembly 10 may be collapsed and removed from the mold 2 and the entiregreen carcass 72 on a building drum assembly 7 can be inserted into themold, locked into position, pressurized, and cured to form a finishedtire.

The tread 12 or tread belt assembly 14 may also be applied to the deck24 when the deck is set at an outside diameter less than the diameterrequired to fit precisely in the closed mold position. A small amount ofat least 0.5 mm less than the desired finish diameter of the tread belt14 may be selected. Once the tread 12 or tread belt assembly 14 isplaced in the open mold 2, and after the mold 2 is closed and the moldsegments 4 embed into the tread rubber 12, then the drive means 30 maybe can rotated, expanding the building drum 10 from the slightly smallerbuild diameter to the required mold diameter. This additional expansionfirmly compresses the tread 12 or tread belt assembly 14 into the treadforming segments 4 and insures a slight tensioning of the tread or treadbelt assembly into the tread forming segments. Then, the deck 24 can beretracted releasing it from the tread 12 or tread belt assembly 14 aspreviously discussed.

In accordance with the present invention, the live center receptacle 109may receive a live center pin 201 for preventing unwanted flexion of thetire building drum assembly 10. The live center pin 201 may have twopotential movements, longitudinal and transverse. Both longitudinal andtransverse movements may be driven by a single actuator 203.Conventional systems typically require an actuator for each direction(e.g., two, three, etc.). Utilization of a single actuator 203 maysimplify the assembly and reduce cycle time.

A system 200 (e.g., apparatus, method, assembly, etc.) in accordancewith the present invention may include a support frame 211, alongitudinal rail 213 slidingly mounted on the support frame, atransverse rail 215 slidingly secured to the longitudinal rail, and asingle actuator 203 for moving the longitudinal rail in a longitudinaldirection and a transverse direction (FIG. 13). The system 200 mayfurther include a link 217 pivotally secured about vertical axes to theactuator 203 and the transverse rail 215. The actuator 203 may include acylinder associated with an actuation rod 225. The actuator 203 may besecured to the support frame 211 such that, when the cylinder acts onthe rod 225, the longitudinal rail 213 moves in the longitudinaldirection. The link 217 may be pivotally secured to an end of theactuation rod 225.

The system 200 may have a first movement and a second movement. Thefirst movement may begin with the system 200 in a first condition shownin FIG. 13 and terminate with the system in a second condition shown inFIG. 14. The live center pin 201 has moved in the longitudinal directionto the second position determined by a longitudinal stop 229. A spring219 is positioned about the actuation rod 225 such that the stiffness ofthe spring is greater than the force of friction encountered by theactuator 203 in moving the longitudinal rail 213 to the second position(FIG. 14).

At the second position, the actuation rod 225 may still continue toexert a force on the longitudinal rail 213. Thus, because of thelongitudinal stop 229, the actuation rod 225 may begin to compress thespring 219 thereby initiating the second movement from the secondcondition (FIG. 14) to a third condition (FIG. 15). The actuation rod225 acts on the link 217. The orientation (e.g., 45 degrees to bothlongitudinal and transverse directions) and pivotal mounting cause thelink 217 to transfer the longitudinal force of the actuation rod 225 toa transverse force acting on the transverse rail 215 and the live centerpin 201. The live center pin 201 thus reaches the third condition (FIG.15), having moved sequentially longitudinally, and then transversely.

The previous descriptive language is of the best presently contemplatedmode or modes of carrying out the present invention. This description ismade for the purpose of illustrating an example of general principles ofthe present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting thepresent invention. The scope of the present invention is best determinedby reference to the appended claims. The reference numerals as depictedin the schematic drawings are the same as those referred to in thespecification. For purposes of this application, the various examplesillustrated in the figures each use a same reference numeral for similarcomponents. The example structures may employ similar components withvariations in location or quantity thereby giving rise to alternativeconstructions in accordance with the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly for moving an end portion of a tirebuilding assembly comprising: a support frame for supporting the endportion; a longitudinal rail slidingly mounted to the support frame; atransverse rail slidingly mounted to the longitudinal rail; and anactuator for moving the longitudinal rail in a first direction relativeto the support frame, the actuator also moving the transverse rail in asecond direction relative to the support frame and the longitudinalrail.
 2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the firstdirection extends ninety degrees relative to the second direction. 3.The assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a link pivotallysecured to both the longitudinal rail and the transverse rail.
 4. Theassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator includes acylinder, an actuating rod, and a spring acting against movement in thefirst direction.
 5. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 furtherincluding a link for transferring a longitudinal force of the actuatorinto a transverse force acting at ninety degrees relative to thelongitudinal force.
 6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 furtherincluding a stop for limiting movement of the longitudinal rail in thefirst direction.
 7. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 furtherincluding a first movement and a second movement acting subsequently tothe first movement, the first movement producing motion in the firstdirection and the second movement producing motion in the seconddirection.
 8. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including afirst position of a live center pin, a second position of the livecenter pin a first distance from the first position in the firstdirection, and a third position of the live center pin a second distancefrom the second position in the second direction.
 9. The assembly as setforth in claim 1 further including a link pivotally secured aboutvertical axes to the actuator and the transverse rail.
 10. The assemblyas set forth in claim 1 further including a link proving sequentiallymovement of the end portion in the first direction and then the seconddirection.